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Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
non-sexist language part 2
To call a woman a "blonde" or a "brunette" sounds sexist to many
viewers.
Talk about A WOMAN WITH BLOND or BRUNET HAIR.
("Blond" and "brunet," spelled without the "e" and the "te" on the
end, are the gender neutral versions of the words.)
Lose the "-ess" to indicate female, as in "authoress," "sculptress,"
"waitress," "stewardess," "poetess," and "actress" (excluding
"duchess").
Suffixes such as "-ess," "-ette," "-trix," and "-enne" make
unnecessary reference to the person's sex and trivialize the job.
SUFFRAGIST has replaced "suffragette."
USHER, not "usherette."
SCULPTORS are men and women.
SERVERS have replaced waiters and waitresses.
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS greet you on the plane.
ACTORS come in both sexes, too.
And so does a HERO, like Rosa Parks
Mrs. B advocates the use of both the masculine and feminine
pronouns rather than the once-thought-of-generic "he" or "his."
v
Every anchor and reporter must have HER or HIS pager turned
on this weekend.
Or use the plural and "they" or "their."
v
All anchors and reporters must have THEIR pagers turned on
this weekend.
